Improvement in call-bells



E. W. BRETTELL. Call Bell No. 211,494. Patented Jan. 21,1879.

N-PETERS. PNOTO-LITHOGRLPHER. WA

U IT STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD W. BRETTELL, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CALL-BELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 21l,494, dated January21, 1879 application filed June 8, 1878.

.L'0 att whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD W. BnEr'rELL, ofBaltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gongs or Bells; andIdohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of gon gs or bells used as signalsupon steamboats, street and railway cars, in hotels, and many otherplaces where it is desired to convey certain intelligence by separateand distinct strokes of the hammer upon a bell or gong, the object beingto simplify the construction and thus lessen the cost of such apparatus,as well as increasing its durability and certainty of operation; and theinvention consists in the peculiar construction of the hammer anddevices by which it is operated, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the apparatuscomplete, a part of the bell being broken away to more clearly show theworking parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through thecase, showing the relative position thereto of the operating-slide andvertically sliding spring pawl or bolt which gives motion to the hammer.Fig. 3 is a plan of the case with the hammer attached, clearlyexhibiting the connection and construction of both. Fig. 4 shows theoperatingslide with its cam and sprin g-retainin g washer. Fig. 5 is aside view of the actuating-lever which forces the hammer against thebell.

A represents the base, to which the apparatus is fixed, and may be ofany desired form, or a part of the structure upon which the gong or bellis to be used. B is the metal case, to which all of the operative partsare secured, and which is itself attached to the base by means of screwspassing through the holes a at each of its corners. A bridge, b,connects its two sides and supports the standard 1), upon which the bellis secured. A projection, c, at one side of the case carries the stud 0,upon which the hammer-spring dis coiled. The end d of this spring entersa recess formed in the lower edge of the case for its reception, and itis thus held firmly in place, while its opposite end is provided withthe ball or hammer 0, cast or otherwise secured upon it.

The shape of the case B is such that it may be readily cast ingreen-sand molds without the use of cores, thus reducing its cost to aminimum. The operating-slide D is also cast in the same manner andcompleted at one operation, the extension 0 being preferably ofwrought-iron, and provided with the head 0. This extension is insertedin the mold, and the washer e placed upon it before the metal formin gthe remainder of the slide is poured in, thus causing the washer to bein its appropriate place on the extension when the slide is removed fromthe mold. If it be desired to form the:slide wholly of cast metal, thewasher is covered with clay and placed in such a position in the moldthat it shall encircle the extension-piece when the metal is poured inthe clay, preventing the washer from adhering, and, when removed by theoperation of cleaning the casting, allowing the washer to move freelyalong the extension.

The opposite end of the slide is provided with a hole, f, through whichthe operating wire is passed in securing it to the slide. A cam, g, isalso formed upon the slide, having a vertical face upon one side and aninclined surface upon the other, so that when the slide is drawn backthe vertical face of the cam catches the bolt h, and carries it alonguntil it is released by swinging to one side sufficiently to allow thecam to pass. This bolt It moves freely in the cylindrical opening formedfor its reception in the end is of the actuating-lever E, which lever isprovided at its outer end with a projection, k, that acts upon thehammerspring (1 whenever the lever is swung around upon the pivot orstud c, to which it is attached. A spiral spring, h is placed in theopening in the end k of the lever E, and serves to keep the bolt Italways pressed down upon the slide D.

The extension 0 of the slide passes through a recess in the diaphragm i,which connects the two sides of the case B, the washer e bein g upon theoutside of the diaphragm.

A spiral spring, m, is then placed upon the extension between the washerand the enlargem ent 6 upon its end by passing one turn of the springover the enlargement, and then turning it around until the whole springis in place upon the extension 6 between the washer and its end.

The bell F is secured upon the stud b by means of a nut, 11, the concaveside of the bell being turned toward and partly covering the case B, thehammer, and other mechanism, care being taken, however, to have the edgeof the bell a sufficient distance from the base to allow free egress tothe sound.

The operation is as follows: Whenever a pull is given to the slide D thecam g catches the bolt 72., which carries the end 70 of the lever Ealong with it, causing the opposite end' 7c of the lever to act upon thehammer-sp'rin g d, forcing the hammer away from the bell until by theswinging of the lever the bolt is suddenly released from the cam, whenthe reaction of the spring causes the hammer to strike the hell; butbefore'the hammer can repeat its blow the spring is caught by theprojection 70 audits further vibration prevented. When the slide is letgo it is drawn back by the spring on upon the extension 0, and theinclined side of the cam gstrikes the end of the bolt h, causing it torise and pass over the cam, when the spring h. forces it back intoposition for another stroke.

It will be observed that this-method of construction givesaperfectly-operatin g apparatus composed of the smallest possible numberof pieces, thus reducing the costof fitting up the bell to the smallestpossible amount, it being necessary to drill but two holes-viz., thatfor the insertion of the spring h in the lever E,

and that for the pivot upon which the lever oscillates.

Having-thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following:

1. The case B, provided with the standard I), stud c, and diaphragm t,for the purpose of supporting the operating parts of a gong or bell, asdescribed.

2. The lever E, having at one end the hollow case 70, and at the otherthe projection k, acting upon the spring d, in the manner and for thepurpose specified.

3. The slide D, provided with cam g, the extension e, and head a, incombination with the spring at, diaphragm t, and washer e, as and forthe purpose described.

4. The slide D, provided with the cam g, in combination with thespring-bolt hand lever E, as set forth.

5. The slide D and spring-bolt h, in combination with lever E, providedwith'proiection It and the hammer-spring d, substantially as and for thepurpose specified. v

6. The combination of the bell F, mounted upon standard I), with case B,spring-slide D, provided with cam- 9, extension 6, and spring m, leverE, springbolt h, and spring-hammer 0, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix mysignature'in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD w. BRETTEDL.

Witnesses: V g N. W. UNDUCH,

O. W. WATTS.

